Window regulator mechanism



Nov. 28, 1961 T. H. JOHNSTONE Er AL WINDOW REGULATOR MECHANISM Filed Feb. 18, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN T ORS Nov. 28, 1961 T. H. JoHNsToNE ETAL 3,010,758

WINDOW REGULATOR MECHANISM 2 Sl'xeees-Sheeil 2 Filed Feb. i8, 1960 awk.

A r 70m/Er ment thereof toward an open position. object of this'invention is to provide an improved latchnited States Parent 3,010,758 WINDOW REGULATOR MECHANISM Theodore H. Johnstone, Lincoln Park, and Wilford B.

Shrode, Huntington Woods, Mich., assignors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 18, 1960, Ser. No. 9,483 Claims. (Cl. 296-44) This invention relates to window regulator mechanisms and more particularly to a combined vehicle window regulator mechanism and latching means.

'Ihe window regulator mechanism and latching means of this invention is primarily intended for use with vehicle ventilation windows which are swingable about a vertically disposed aXis between opened and closed positions. It is desirable that a latch be provided to latch the -window in closed position and prevent forcible entry into the body. In the past, a manual latch has often been provided to latch the window either to the door or to the division post channel in the closed position thereof. Such latches have the disadvantage of requiring the operator to perform two separate functions, one being that of moving the window between open and closed positions, and the other being that of latching and unlatching the window. Very often the operator may forget to latch the window in the closed position thereof'or may forget to unlatch the window prior to trying to move the window to an open position.

The regulator mechanism and latching means of this invention automatically latches the window to the body when the window has been moved to closed position, and automatically unlatches the window from the body upon initial movement toward an open position. The latching and unlatching of the window is automatically accomplished whereby the operator need only turn the usual manual crank or operate the power-operated mechanism in order to perform both the latching and unlatching function and the function of moving the window between its open and closed positions. Thus, the regulator mechanism and latching means of this invention has several distinct and unique advantages over the usual manual latch.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved combined window regulator mechanism and latching means for vehicle windows. Another object of this invention is to provide an improved combined window regulator mechanism and latching means for vehicle windows which is operative to automatically latch the window `to the body when moved to the closed position thereof, and to automatically unlatch the window from the body upon initial movement thereof to an open position. A furtherobject of this invention is to provide an improved combined window regulator mechanism vand latching means for vehicle windows which includes a single control Hmeans operative to both move the window between its opened and closed positions and to latch the window to the body upon movement of the window to closed position and unlatch the window from the body upon initial move- Yet, a further drawings wherein:

FIGURE l is a side elevational view of a portion of Va vehicle body having a swingable ventilator window and embodying a combined window regulator mechanism and latching means according to this invention;

Patented Nov. 28, 1961 FIGURE 2 is an enlarged partially broken away sectional view taken generally along the plane indicated by line 2-2 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view taken generally along the plane indicated by line 3--3 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along the plane indicated by line 4-4 of FIGURE 6, and showing the window iu a closed and latched position;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 showing the window in an unlatched and partially open position;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged partially broken away view of a portion of FIGURE l, and

FIGURE 7 is a view of a portion of FIGURE 6 showing the ventilator window in an unlatched and partially open position.

Referring now to the drawings, a vehicle body 10 includes a windshield 12, a roof 14, and a front door 16, the upper edge portion 18 of which is spaced from the roof header 20 to define therewith a window opening 22. Mounted on door 16 is a generally triangularly-shaped ventilator window frame 24 which mounts a swingable ventilator window 26 for opening and closing the forward portion of window opening 22. The rear portion of the window opening 22 is opened and closed by a conventional vertically movable door window 27, indicated schematically in FIGURES 4 and 5. A combined window regulator mechanism and latching means 28 according to this invention is provided for window 26 in order to move the window between its opened and closed positions, and to additionally automatically latch the window in its Closed position and to unlatch the window upon initial opening movement thereof. This regulator mechanism and latching means will now be described with reference to FIGURES 2 through 6 of the drawings.

As best shown in FIGURES 2 and 6, frame 24 includes a depending integral flange 30 which is bolted at 32 to the inner panel of door 16 in order to xedly mount the frame on the door. A combined clutch and reduction gear drive unit 34 is bolted at 36 to flange 30. The gear drive unit includes a manual operating handle 38, FIG- URE l, for the operator and an output driven shaft 4G provided with a slot 42. Slot 42 receives the lower flattened end of the lower window pivot shaft 44, with shafts 40 and 44 being bolted together at 46. Shaft 44 is journalled in the lower frame member 4S of frame 24 and is welded or otherwise secured at its upper end to a thin channel-shaped molding 5t) which encircles the lower and forward edges of the window 26 and is iixedly secured thereto. The upper pivot shaft 52'for window 26 is journalled in the forward frame member 54 of frame 24 and is secured to a short channel-shaped member 56 which encircles molding 5i) and is secured thereto. The shafts 52 and 44 are vertically aligned and define the vertical axis of swinging movement of the window 26. As can be seen from FIGURES V2, 6 and 7, the frame members 4d and54` are each provided with an inwardly opening channel 58 which receives and seats a weather strip 60 to seal the lower and forward edges yof the window 26 in the closed position thereof.

The rear frame member 62 of frame 24 is of generally H-shaped cross section as can be Seen from FIGURES 4 and 5, and provides the division post channel between the vertically movable door window 27 and the window 26. The intermediate wall 63 of member 62 is bolted at 64 to member 54 and'at 66 to a lug 63 of member 48 in order to Xedly secure member, 62 to frame 24. Wall 63 is provided with a plurality of vertically spaced dimples 70, each of which is generally conically-shaped and opens inwardly of frame 24. Three such dimples are shown, although more or less may be provided as required. Adjaceut two of the dimples 7l), wall 63 is ing channel member, means mounting said member on said body for bodily movement in opposite directions relative thereto, cam means for camming said member into and out of engagement with an edge portion of said window upon movement of said member, the edge portion of said Window being received within the channel of said member in the closed position thereof and being out of engagement with the channel of said member in the open position thereof, and means operatively interconnecting said member and said operating means Ifor bodily moving said member in said opposite directions upon movement of said window between said open and closed positions.

3. In combination with a vehicle body having a Window opening therein and a window mounted thereon for movement to open and closed positions, a ywindow regulator mechanism and latching means comprising, operating means operatively connected 4to said window for moving said window between open and closed positions, a locking channel member, support means mounting said member on said body for movement with respect thereto within the plane of said opening, ca m means camming said member between extended and retracted positions with respect to said support means and into and out of engagement with an edge portion of said Window upon movement of said member, the edge portion of said window being received Within the channel of said member in the closed position thereof and being out of engagement with the channel of said member in the open posi- Ition thereof, and means operatively interconnecting said member and said operating means for bodily moving said member with respect to said support means upon movement of said window between open and closed positions.

4. In combination with a vehicle body having a window opening therein and a Window mounted thereon for movement to open and closed positions, a Window regulator mechanism and latching means comprising, operating means operatively connected to said Window for moving said window to open and closed positions, a locking member, support means slidably mounting said member on said body, cam means for camming said member into and out of engagement with an edge portion of said window upon movement of said member, and means operatively interconnecting said member and said operating means for moving said member relative -to said support means upon movement of said Window between open and closed positions.

5. In combination with a vehicle body having a window opening therein 'and a window mounted thereon -for movement to open and closed positions, a window regulator mechanism and latching means comprising, operating means operatively connected to said window for moving said window to open and closed positions, a locking channel member, a support channel on said body slidably receiving said member, cooperating cam means on said member and channel for camming said member into and out of engagement with an edge portion of said Window upon movement of said member Within said channel, the edge portion of said window beingreceived within the channel of said member in the closed position thereof and being out of engagement with the channel of said member in the open position thereof, and means operatively interconnecting said member and said operating means for moving said member said channel upon movement of said Window between open and closed positions. i

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,073,878 Palmer Mar. 16, 1937 2,086,707 Falk July 13, 1937 2,144,539 Lane Ian. 17, 1939 2,190,976 Campbell Feb. 20, 1940 

